Kanako Miyamae DoesNotLikeMen, to the point of breaking out in hives when she comes in contact with them. Hoping to find her true (female) love interest, she attends Ame no Kisaki Girls' School where her parents met. Except she missed the school and wandered onto a private estate. As if fate had led her there, she sees a perfect girl before her and falls in love at first sight.

Fate really enjoys toying with people. Mariya Shidou, her perfect girl, is actually a [[AttractiveBentGender boy in disguise]], the grandson of the school's ex-chairwoman, and is [[{{Jerkass}} one hell of a]] [[StealthPun dick]]. In order to keep herself from being kicked out of the school, Kanako is forced to cooperate with Mariya against her will.

Based on the manga by Creator/MinariEndou and adapted into an anime for the early 2009 season by Creator/StudioShaft, which means [[Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei another]] [[Manga/HidamariSketch layer of]] [[Manga/PaniPoniDash randomness]] is added to what's already there. Sentai Filmworks licensed the anime for release in February 2010, while {{Tokyopop}} released the manga in English. [[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-10-21/maria-holic-tv-anime-gets-2nd-season-green-lit A second season of the anime]] aired as part of the Spring 2011 anime season.

Initially released [[NoDubForYou sub-only]] by SentaiFilmworks in 2010, it is getting an all new English Dub in January 2014 (featuring Creator/MonicaRial and Creator/JessicaCalvello working together for the first time since ''Anime/ExcelSaga'', 11 years earlier).

Compare and contrast: ''VisualNovel/OtomeWaBokuNiKoishiteru'' and ''Manga/HououGakuenMisoragumi''. [[JustForFun/IThoughtThatWas Has nothing to do with]] ''Manga/{{xxxHOLiC}}''.

A [[Characters/MariaHolic character page]] is under construction.----!!Tropes:

* AllJustADream: The entire first segment of episode 12. Of course, Mariya and Matsurika were somehow able to see everything in the dream and tell Kanako exactly when it started. Becomes a running gag in ''Alive'' whenever [[spoiler:Jayano Enjouji]] shows up. Implied, but not stated when [[spoiler:she appears in episode 12 during Kanako's birthday party.]]* AllMenArePerverts: Almost all males so far have at least some perversion.** An exception is Mariya: his crossdressing seems more tied into his ''planet-sized'' ego. And despite being in an all-girls' school, he's never actually ''done'' anything with it. If anyone's a pervert, it'd be Kanako (Good Lord, it'd be Kanako...)* AmbiguousDisorder: Kiri.* AnachronicOrder: Season 2, episode 1 of the anime calls attention to the first season finale's cliffhanger. It is quickly swept under the rug as something that will happen in the near future.* AntiClimax: [[spoiler:In episode 12 Kanako tries to expose Mariya's fake breasts to everyone. Turns out his twin sister Shizu stood in for him.]]* ArtShift: Being a Creator/StudioShaft show, art shifts are all around, but Kanako's imaginings tend to be exceptionally flowery.* AttractiveBentGender: Mariya... full stop.* BerserkButton: [[AGodAmI God]] gets incredibly pissed if someone from her dorm fails in exams. The punishment is so horrible that Kanako had no memories about it after.** What about when [[spoiler:Kanako catches God reminiscing about a previous summer, and [[NoodleIncident goes missing for three days]]]]?* BiTheWay: [[spoiler:Kanako's sister, Miki, was in love with Mariya long before she found out that Mariya's a guy.]]* {{Bifauxnen}}: Shizu. Unlike her brother, she's a WholesomeCrossdresser, though she only fits this trope because she's going to a boys' school as part of an inheritance competition with her brother.* BishieSparkle: Ayari Shiki and Maki Natsuru, the StudentCouncilPresident and the Vice-President, respectively. So much so you could see the sparkles even if they aren't directly on screen.* BitchInSheepsClothing: Mariya (and ''how''). Only Kanako and Matsurika are aware of it.* BlandNameProduct: Being a parody series, presumably everywhere.** Matsurika is frequently seen playing her [[PlayStationPortable BSB]], showing how little she cares about whatever is driving Kanako nuts this time.** Father Touichirou Kanae uses a dokoda phone, rather than a docomo.* BlatantLies: A whole lot of them. Mostly from Mariya.* {{Bokukko}}: In the manga, Shizu makes appearances dressed as a boy, and uses "boku" accordingly.* BrickJoke: The pendant is noted as being significant in an early episode and in the very last; [[spoiler:it's subverted because we only get to see Shizu gasp in shock upon seeing it and the show ends before she can say anything about it]].* ButNotTooForeign: Father Touichirou Kanae is part-French. Mariya and Shizu had an Italian grandmother.* ButtMonkey: Kanako gets mistreated by most peers (except Kiri, Sachi, Yuzuru and Ryuuken), mocked constantly by Mariya, insulted by Matsurika, developed an allergy to boys as a result to being teased by them... as some would say, she is [[Manga/GirlsBravo Yukinari's]] soulmate.* {{Cameo}}: (deep breath) [[Anime/FreshPrettyCure Cures Peach, Berry & Pine]], [[{{Vocaloid}} Miku & Rin]], [[PaniPoniDash Number 6]], [[LightNovel/MariasamaGaMiteru Yumi & Sachiko]], [[Manga/HidamariSketch Sae, Hiro, & Yuno]], and [[Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei Kaede, Meru and Kafuka]]. All in one episode.** Not to mention ([[LawyerFriendlyCameo pitch black skinned versions of]]) [[InfiniteStratos Houki, Cecilia, Rin, Charlotte and Laura]] in episode 2 of ''Alive''.** Cure Peach and Berry return in the 7th episode of ''Alive'' during Kanako's swimsuits dream, but this time their hair colours are switched: Berry's is blond and Peach's is blue.* CatGirl: [[AGodAmI God]], the dorm leader. * ChickMagnet: Mariya, Ryuuken and Father Kanae have a lot of {{Fan Girl}}s.* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: For her crime of biting Yonakuni (which, as he is a pet, is counted as personal property damage in Japan), the jury for Kanako's trial in the fourth episode of ''Alive'' sentences her to... a night getting lectured by Father Kanae. This also prevents her from studying for exams.* CoolBigSis: Ryuuken.* ComedicSociopathy: A very disturbing example, [[FridgeHorror if you think about it]]. Mariya psychologically harasses Kanako with zest, partly so she wouldn't reveal his secret, but partly [[ForTheEvulz for the pure amusement]]. This involves things like showering Kanako with gasoline and ''waving around a lighter'', until Kanako "apologizes for her behavior". Kanako is practically reduced to a obedient serf by a mix of blackmailing, bullying and seduction. Remarkably, the show manages to remain a tongue-in-cheek comedy.* CosplayOtakuGirl: Sort of. ''[[VillainousCrossdresser Mariya]]'' dresses up in all sorts of {{moe}} outfits, supposedly to mess with Kanako.-->'''Kanako''': "So cute... (tears up, nosebleeds) If only you weren't a boy..."* CrazyPrepared: Sachi wants everything handy within her personal {{Hammerspace}}, such as a hammer, centrifuges, and ''triangular screwdrivers''.* CryCute: Ryuuken, ''[[CoolBigSis of all people]]'', breaks down sobbing after realizing that her [[RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms Three Kingdoms]]-based card games aren't exactly enjoyed by everyone else (i.e., Kanako).* DeadpanSnarker: Matsurika and Kiri.* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: Kanako's mouth and brain get mixed up, though Mariya is the one who calls her out on it. Later on, it seems that Mariya can enter into Kanako's thoughts... somehow.* TheDitz: Kanako knows she's an idiot and is proud of it. When she opened Sachi's notes for her supplementary exams that "even an idiot could understand", she failed to even understand ''those''.* DoesNotLikeMen: Due to a grade-school experience (losing her recorder and PE uniform), Kanako is allergic to men. Neither does Shizu, courtesy of ''her own twin brother''.* DoItYourselfThemeTune:** The opening for both seasons ("''Hanaji''" and "''Runrunriru Ranranrara''") are sung by YuuKobayashi, and the second season's opening for the first 2 episodes ("''Mousou Senshi Miyamae Kanako''") is by Creator/TomokazuSugita.** The two seasons' ending themes, however, are covers of YellowMagicOrchestra's "''Kimi ni, Mune Kyun''" and Linda Yamamoto's "''Dounimo Tomaranai''", as sung by Kobayashi, Creator/AsamiSanada and Creator/MarinaInoue.* DoubleEntendre: From the dialogue:-->'''Mariya:''' "[[BlackComedyRape I'll stick it in you later as promised! On top of that, I'll pull it out forcefully!]]"\\'''Kanako:''' "Gah, he's not satisfied with just sticking it into me!"* DudeLooksLikeALady: Mariya, oh so much.* EmbarrassingNickname: Ayari's "Panda-Chang", after her panda-print panties accidentally exposed by Shizu (posing as Mariya) during a Catholic festival when they were children.* TheEmpath: Matsurika and [[AGodAmI God]].* EmpathicEnvironment: During Kiri's discussion with Kanako in Episode 4, the background changes depending on what was said.* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Mariya loves his late grandmother so much he agreed to the crossdressing, cross-school competition with Shizu, but doesn't mind whether he wins or not, seeing it as more of a fulfilment of her last request.* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Mariya. Just ask [[SexyPriest Father Kanae]] and [[NoFourthWall a certain fan whose letter is featured on volume 1's omake]].* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: In-universe: invoked by Father Kanae (and Kanako, initially) on a regular basis as he sees meaning in the most random of statements.* EvolvingCredits: Most episodes add or change something small in the ending that carries over the the next episode; some examples are the addition of Kiri and samurai Ryuuken.* ExpressiveHair: Mariya's hair has a tendency to twitch depending on the mood.* {{Expy}}: There's some parallels between Father Kanae and [[Manga/{{Minami-Ke}} Hosaka]].** Also, Kiri seems pretty similar to [[http://typemoon.wikia.com/wiki/Bazett_Fraga_McRemitz Bazett Fraga McRemitz]] of ''[[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Fate/hollow ataraxia]]'' and ''Fate/Unlimited Codes'' in both personality and appearance, except for the glasses.* FailedAttemptAtDrama: Shizu tries a tearful, dramatic exit after she felt insulted by Mariya's gesture to cede his chairmanship for both schools to her by asking her to kiss his feet... only to realize that she forgot to keep the door open.-->'''Kanako:''' "Moe!"* FirstEpisodeSpoiler: Mariya's a [[VillainousCrossdresser dude]]!* {{Flanderization}}: Kanako seems to be getting more and more perverted and deranged, making it exceedingly difficult to sympathize with her poor fortune.* GenreSavvy: Kanako shows this when she purposely intends to [[LateForSchool run late with a piece of toast in her mouth]] in order to [[CrashIntoHello run into her true love.]]* AGlassOfChianti: Mariya. Who claims it's "tomato juice". [[spoiler:It's actually a Bordeaux!]]* AGodAmI: God the Dorm Leader may be appropriately named, seeing as Heaven and Earth will move themselves to acquiesce to her desires. She can even dissipate a June rainstorm just because she didn't feel like hanging out in Mariya's room anymore after they ran out of snacks.** She is also hinted to actually BE God, among many other things, like possessing time-warping powers and having been very deeply embroiled in the history of ancient China.* GoofyPrintUnderwear: Ayari's panda-print panties, which are accidentally exposed by Shizu (posing as Mariya) when they were children. She has since hated him for that incident.* GroinAttack: How Kanako further verified the fact that Mariya's a crossdresser, by grabbing his... magic stick.-->'''Kanako:''' "What the hell is ''that'' thing beneath your skirt?!"-->'''Mariya:''' "Now you've known it..."-->*Kanako removes her hand from beneath Mariya's skirt and groans as she waves her hand** HairAntennae: Mariya has [[SchoolRumble Tenma]]-style ones. They tend to twitch when he's angry. * HalfIdenticalTwins: Shizu, Mariya's twin sister who looks all but identical, except she's an actual girl (and is Mariya's complete opposite personality-wise). Also, Mariya has a mole under his left eye, while Shizu has one under her right.* {{Hammerspace}}: Kanako tries to work out just how Mariya could hide an entire second room behind the dressers in their room, said dressers being set against the wall that connects to the outer hallway.-->'''Mariya''': "Do you know how much I had to spend on this?"** Also, Sachi's left pocket from where she can pull whatever is needed in any situation.-->'''Sachi''': "Do you need a centrifuge?"* HeelFaceTurn: Mariya is inching toward one by the end of ''Alive'' if his JerkWithAHeartOfGold moments are any indication.* HeirToTheDojo: Their late grandmother's will subjects Mariya and Shizu to an inheritance competition in which both are to attend single-sex schools (both of which their grandmother once served as chairwoman) whose gender population is opposite theirs and under each other's names. Thus, Shizu attends the all-female Ame no Kisaki as "Mariya", while Mariya attends the all-male Mihoshi no Mori as "Shizu". Whoever keeps their gender secret for the next three years wins chairmanship for both. Shizu claimed victory due to Kanako learning of Mariya's gender. The latter, however, pulls off a comeback victory due to an indisputable technicality: Kanako learned of his gender ''before'' he attended school (and is currently blackmailing her into keeping it a secret), while she learned of Shizu's while she's ''already'' in school. Nevertheless, he's willing to overlook this technical victory in favor of Shizu... by asking her to kiss his feet.* HotForStudent: Father Kanae has some unspoken feelings for Mariya while being completely unaware of "her" actual gender.** Kanako's parents also met this way at Ame no Kisaki: her father was her mother's teacher, and Kanako's older sister was born when her mother was ''sixteen'' and had gotten married.* HugeSchoolgirl: Kanako and Ryuuken. Kanako is especially embarrassed about her height.* HypocriticalHumor: Kanako states that she hates those who "get excited by high school girls exposing a bit more skin due to the seasonal change of attire." Considering what she just did a bit earlier in the episode...** There's also Mariya constantly insulting Kanako for being a disgusting pervert. Coming from a guy who seems to have come to enjoy his life in drag.* IHaveManyNames: [[AGodAmI God]] also goes by Boss, though most really just call her Dorm Leader.* IdiotHair: Kanako.* [[IdiotHero Idiot Heroine]]: Kanako again.* ImagineSpot: Kanako spends half her time doing this. Father Kanae spends ''most'' of his time doing this.* ImagineSpotting: Mariya and Matsurika often see what Kanako is imagining.* InnerMonologue: Kanako's inner voice is a chatty one.* InteractiveNarrator: Kanako actively takes to arguing with the narrator in the second episode.* JapanesePronouns: While keeping his "good girl" masquerade, Mariya speaks with "watashi" and uses polite speech. When around people who know his secret, his speech is rude and masculine and uses "ore" accordingly.* {{Jerkass}}: Mariya... '''big time'''.** PetTheDog / JerkWithAHeartofGold: On the other hand, on occasion he exhibits a genuinely nicer side. He doesn't mind having to take heat from Ayari on Shizu's behalf after the latter accidentally exposed Ayari's panties as children, is willing to cede chairmanship to Shizu, saves Ayari from falling off her float, and, despite enjoying torturing Kanako psychologically and emotionally, he frequently gives her helpful advice. Of course, he's quick to explain away all these rare instances of kindness on his part as a façade-maintaining measure.*** His heart of gold is showing out more in ''Alive''. For instance, he always bails Kanako out of problems she accidentally caused herself, even if he need not to, [[spoiler:like her dilemma over her gift for Sachi for the latter's birthday and the conundrum that arose concerning her own birthday when she was unwittingly leading people on.]]*** Also despite making fun of Kanako for being a lesbian, he doesn't seem to really mind it, being more disgusted by her perverted urges. He even tries to stop her when they are about to go out of controll like in episode 10. * LargeHam: Kanako.** In the English dub, it's helped by the fact that she's voiced by the voice actress for [[Anime/ExcelSaga Excel]], Creator/JessicaCalvello.* LastEpisodeNewCharacter: Jayano Enjouji. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] and [[InvertedTrope inverted]]: [[spoiler:[[AllJustADream she's entirely in Kanako's dream]]]].* LovableSexManiac: Kanako, though mostly to Mariya, says some perverted things without a second thought, and joined the school specifically to hit on girls.** She even spends the first chapter of the manga acting exactly like her straight male counterparts...and they react to her the same way they would to a man.* LoveLetterLunacy: Kiri gets a letter from a man she met on the train and tries to reject him, but it just doesn't work. Kanako remains in the dark during this entire segment. Then a letter from the man ends up with Sachi...* LuckyCharmsTitle: ''Maria†Holic''* TheMafia: God aka Boss aka Dorm Leader, not literally, but she does have that kind of personality. She has an Italian accent in the GagDub[=/=]AbridgedSeries.* MadeOfIron: Kanako gets trampled by rabid Ryuuken fangirls, only to appear a few seconds later with a few little bruises.* ManipulativeBastard: Mariya, oh so very much, and God.-->'''Mariya:''' "I'll '''''rape''''' you if you dare reveal it." [Jesus H. Christ Almighty]-->'''God:''' "DVD player..." [Bribery and corruption indeed]* MeasuringDay* MediumAwareness: When one episode has pop-up notes on idioms and other random factoids, Mariya and Matsurika somehow become aware of them towards the end of the episode. Mariya himself indicates he cosplays in [[{{Meido}} maid]] and [[HelloNurse nurse]] outfits to provide {{fanservice}} during an episode, noting how little screentime he's gotten.** In the {{omake}} at the end of volume 1, Kanako states that she's just [[NoFourthWall ''read through the volume itself'']], and Mariya answers a letter from a male reader who [[StupidSexyFlanders asks Mariya to marry him]], and responds in [[BitingTheHandHumor no uncertain terms how he feels about such propositions]].** In episode 4 of ''Alive'', Kanako comes to the conclusion that Mariya is prosecuting her because he wants her spot as the main character of the show (which isn't helped by the fact that his name is on the title). Matsurika just tells her that it's the least of her concerns.** In episode 8 of ''Alive'', Mariya and Matsurika are so disgusted with Kanako that they revoke her right to speak for the entirety of the next episode. Sure enough, she's being prevented from doing so.* {{Meganekko}}: Kiri is even called one when Kanako first sees her.* {{Meido}}: Matsurika. * MistakenForGay: Kiri continually says she is lesbian to protect Kanako as she was asked to, though this really isn't the case.* {{Moe}}: Kanako is an in-universe frequent invoker of the term.** While looking herself through the mirror wearing cat-ears in private. She then throws them down after realizing she sounds like an idiot.-->'''Kanako:''' "Nekomimi Bloomer~"** In episode 5, after seeing Shizu's FailedAttemptAtDrama.** In episode 2 of ''Alive'', after Yuzuru tearfully admits to buying expensive chocolates for herself as reward for good exam performance.* MonochromaticEyes: Yuzuru.* MsFanservice: [[VillainousCrossdresser Mariya]], though it's not limited to just him.* NamesToKnowInAnime:** Japanese Version:*** Creator/AsamiSanada is Kanako.*** Creator/MarinaInoue is Mariya.** English Dub Version:*** Creator/JessicaCalvello is Kanako.*** Creator/MonicaRial is Mariya and Shizu Shidou.*** Creator/BrittneyKarbowski is Dorm Supervisor "God".*** Margaret [=McDonald=] (Miho in ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'') is Sachi Momoi.* NoFourthWall* NonHumanSidekick: Yonakuni to [[AGodAmI God]].* {{Nosebleed}}: Kanako. Frequently and with such force that she rivals ''[[NagasareteAirantou Ikuto]]''. Also the name of the first season's opening theme, for that very reason.** When she volunteers to help with the girls' physical examinations she actually ends up in the infirmary after blacking out from blood loss.** Stains the left cheek of a statue of the Virgin Mary with her blood after seeing Ayari's WardrobeMalfunction (and consequently becoming one of their school's [[TheSevenMysteries Seven Mysteries]]).** And she turns the whole world red from a nosebleed in season 1's final episode.* NotDistractedByTheSexy: Mariya has shown no perverse inklings at all despite the opportunities his venture could present. Hell, beyond taking the time and effort to mess with Kanako (and maybe Shizu and Father Kanae), he's a model student and an OneeSama to boot.* NunsAreMikos: Averted, for a change. See the ShownTheirWork entry below.* OfCorsetHurts: Mariya complains of a few broken ribs while Matsurika outfits him with his corset as Kanako walks in on him and discovers his true gender.-->'''Matsurika:''' "[[DeadpanSnarker Stop complaining. A broken rib or two could not possibly kill you.]]"* OjouRinglets: Ayari's curls remind Kanako of chocolate coronets.* OlderThanTheyLook: God and Yonakuni. The paper from a love letter God/Dorm Leader got long ago has already rotted, and the only difference from then is the fact that she wore clothes from what looks to be pre-War Japan.* OneGenderSchool: ''In theory.''* OverShadowedByAwesome: Father Kanae has recently started to notice Matsurika, after noticing Mariya.* PrecisionFStrike: "Who knows, I could even be the reincarnation of [[LargeHam JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!!!!!!]]"* RealSongThemeTune: The first season's ending (rendered in video game sprites) is a cover/remix of 80s pop tune [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HTyPPELmY0 "Kimi ni, Mune Kyun" by all-male pop group YMO]], [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8dPb7yRtBM as sung by Kanako (Asami Sanada), Mariya (Yuu Kobayashi) and Matsurika (Marina Inoue).]]** The second season ending, ''Dou mi Mou Tomaranai'', is also a cover of an 80's tune.* RedArmbandOfLeadership: The committee for the Virgin Mary festival.* RedEyesTakeWarning: [[{{Jerkass}} Mariya]] has them.** Also, when [[spoiler:Kanako decides not to eat in order to get thinner, she eventually gains these as she turns insane from hunger...]]* RuleOfCool: Meido Guitar!** Note that this refers not to a meido playing a guitar but a meido [[RuleOfFunny used as a guitar]].* ScaryShinyGlasses: Kanako's [[PersonalitySwap altered personality]] wore them.* SchoolgirlLesbians: Kanako. Though she prefers not to be called that.[[note]]Probably because the word "lesbian" has different connotations in Japanese as in English, at least to judge by Kanoko's reaction.[[/note]]-->'''Kanako:''' "[[InsistentTerminology At least call it 'yuri' or something that sounds more dignified!]]"-->'''Mariya:''' "It's the same thing, dumbass!"** Komachi Yamaki is possibly one.* TheSevenMysteries: Kanako is responsible for all of them, generally due to profuse {{nosebleed}}ing. Kumagai-sensei later tells her that the school's seven mysteries change annually, but seven ''other'' mysteries about God have never changed, ranging from the genuinely mysterious ("[[OlderThanTheyLook How old is she?]]") to mundane FridgeLogic ("Why are Virtual Boys not banned along with the other electronics?": she later claims she likes things with a tragic history...). If anyone happens to learn all seven mysteries, the dorm manager will do... [[NoodleIncident well, something, anyway]].* SeriousBusiness: Shizu's attitude towards the inheritance competition. Mariya thinks otherwise.* ShoutOut: C'mon, it's ''Creator/StudioShaft''. Father Kanae's speech appears in bubbles just like the salamander-thingy in ''PaniPoniDash'', and later has a moment of [[SayonaraZetsubouSensei quadruple-shot bout of despair]].** Kanako also borrows [[SayonaraZetsubouSensei Itoshiki-sensei's]] despair animation.*** And then proceeds to reflect on how happy she was.*** She also goes into [[FistOfTheNorthStar Kenshiro-mode]] whenever she's... oh, screw it, it's random.** References to [[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] lyrics on the episode title cards, such as "Love is old, love is new" are not uncommon.** In episode 2 of ''Alive'', Kanako imagines a life with [[InfiniteStratos Houki, Cecilia, Rin, Charlotte and Laura]] as her personal {{Meido}}s (also a bit of ActorAllusion: Matsurika, Mariya's own {{Meido}}, shares the [[Creator/MarinaInoue same voice]], as well as the silver hair, as Laura).*** Also from the same episode, Kanako calls Maria "[[{{Doraemon}} Marie-mon]]".**** Come episode 4 of ''Alive'' Kanako re-explains that Marie-mon is "Maria" + "demon".** ''CSIMiami'' at the end of third episode.** ''NodameCantabile'' in episode 12 with the good 'ol "Gyabo!"** In episode 6 of ''Alive'', discuss about Warring States period and [[VideoGame/SengokuBasara Let's Party!!]]** Come on, now. The entire show, or at the very least the setting, is basically a parody of ''[[LightNovel/MariasamaGaMiteru Marimite]]''.** On the 4th episode, the preview shows Honoka on [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Madoka's uniform while she talks to a creature called]] [[Manga/PuellaMagiKazumiMagica Jyubey]]. In the [=BDs=], this segment was changed to a parody of ''[[Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs Snow White]]''.** Miyama (no ''e'') Kanako was a heroine of a visual novel called ''AtlachNacha''. She's the servant of a demon-spider girl.** In episode 5 of ''Alive'', the punishment of watching the entire "Legend of Japanese Heroes" back to back without blinking mentioned by the Dorm Leader is a spoof of ''LegendOfGalacticHeroes'', which in fact, if one includes the side story episodes, really consists of 165 episodes.* ShownTheirWork: The writers ''are'' aware of what Christianity is, and a rare serious moment has Ayari explaining to Kanako just who "Maria-sama" is; the origins of Christmas, and how non-Christian (like most Japanese) students get along with the Catholic school's nuns-and-rosaries environment. (Even if one isn't praying to a specific God, you can be thinking about friends or loved ones, or reflect on your behavior with others.) Also, it's explicitly stated that the nuns do not force their beliefs on anyone.** ''Alive'' also mentions how crash dieting isn't helpful and often just leads to problems and one can possibly rebound, and gives a basic outline of how dieting should actually go (namely [paraphrasing Mariya]: following a sensible plan, cutting back caloric intake and exercising properly). The entirety of the next episode is dedicated to the consequences of Kanako's forced diet.* SiblingYinYang: Mariya and Shizu.* SleepLearning: Matsurika uses this to [[PersonalitySwap change Kanako's personality]] from the hapless idiot she normally is into a ClassRepresentative type. Her perversions aren't altered at all.* SparklingStreamOfTears: Several times, by various characters, complete with incredibly overwrought music.* SpecialEditionTitle: As Shaft is wont to do, ''Alive'''s first two episodes open with an old school ExpositoryThemeTune, "Delusional Warrior Kanako Miyamae" by Creator/TomokazuSugita.* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Maria, which is technically spelled Ma-ri-ya: Mariya.* StealthPun: In a gag next episode preview parodying Shaft's hit original series ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', Matsurika takes the place of [[BigBad Walpurgis Night]]. In real life, Walpurgis Night is a spring festival, and "matsuri" is "festival" in Japanese.* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: Kanako and Father Kanae are extremely similar, except she's [[SchoolgirlLesbians lesbian]] and he's {{hot for student}}, and they both even engage in {{Inner Monologue}}s which are preceded by [[SurrogateSoliloquy "Dear mother/mama up in heaven."]]* StupidSexyFlanders: Kanako towards Mariya. For that matter, the audience towards Mariya. He does make a ''really'' good woman.* SugarAndIcePersonality: Kiri.* SuperDeformed: Things often become super deformed during Kanako's imaginings and other funny moments.* SurrealThemeTune: The OP tune itself is mostly straightforward, but the imagery associated with it in the title sequence pushes it into absurd territory.** The theme tune is sung from the point of view of a young lesbian who is tortured by a VillainousCrossdresser. Except it's sung by YuuKobayashi (Mariya). It would fit as a mockery by Mariya.** The second season turns it up another notch by essentially having a {{Tokusatsu}} song as an opening theme.* SurrogateSoliloquy: Kanako and Father Kanae does them a lot.-->"Dear mother up in heaven..."* SweetPollyOliver: Shizu, who's doing the exact opposite of her twin brother by being a girl in an all-boys' school, once also ran by their late grandmother.* TakeThat: Once at ''LightNovel/MariaSamaGaMiteru'''s use of rosaries. The manga also takes potshots at things like ''GhostInTheShell'' and ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara''.* TheTease: Mariya takes perverse pleasure in acting out his innocent girly routine and watching Kanako's torment.** And the audience's.* ThirdPersonPerson: Kanako refers to herself in third person sometimes during her {{Inner Monologue}}s.* TookALevelInJerkass[=/=]TookALevelInKindness: In ''Alive'', Kanako is becoming more of a pervert than when we first see her, and Mariya (the resident VillainousCrossdresser) is [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold inching toward a]] HeelFaceTurn.* TotallyRadical: Father Kanae tries talking this way with Kanako in the dub, "Dawg, how you doing!?" ** She tries to respond the same way. Both then agree to stop. The audience thanks them.* {{Tsundere}}: Matsurika refers to herself as "100% tsun with no dere at all."** Kanako herself calls Mariya one (at least deep in her head) given Mariya's behavior towards his female relatives (e.g., twin sister Shizu and cousin Ayari). He also tends to explain away any good behavior towards his classmates as a face-saving measure for him and/or the school, possibly in order to cover-up his deep-seated sense of kindness. Of course, he'll complain all the while... even as he saved Ayari from falling off a float during a Catholic festival.** Kanako also refers to Honoka as one.* TwelfthNightAdventure: A more cynical take on this usually positive and idealistic genre.* TwelveEpisodeAnime** And another twelve episodes in ''Alive''.* UnflappableGuardian: [[AGodAmI God]]. There is nothing she doesn't know and nothing she will let her students get away with. Unless they get away with it ''cleverly''.** She'll still catch them, of course, but if they at least put enough effort into it, she'll give it back.** And she gives points for creativity in hiding, and also has ''retests''.* UnsettlingGenderReveal: Well, Mariya on Kanako... repeatedly. The latter ''knows'' what's beneath his skirt (after all, she ''grabbed'' them in episode 1), but still gets sucked in. Then again, so would many viewers...* UnusualEuphemism: Kanako, when trapped alone in the presence of men. "Tonfua!" "Trinidad and Tobago!" "[[CthulhuMythos Nyarlathotep!]]"** Father Kanae is tortured by this; even though Kanako is basically spouting (from her perspective) gibberish, he goes to [[InnerMonologue great lengths]] to try and figure out what she means.* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: Most of the humor stems from Kanako doing something rather stupid or selfish and then getting punished for it either by the universe or Mariya.* VillainousCrossdresser: Mariya.** [[WholesomeCrossdresser His sister, on the other hand...]] let's just say it's no wonder she, like Kanako, DoesNotLikeMen. And yet, she has to tolerate them because she has to impersonate the saintly exterior of her evil brother (which she manages to pull off because she really ''is'' saintly).* WardrobeMalfunction: Poor Ayari suffered this... ''twice''. Both incidents even happened at the same feast. The first was as a child, when Shizu (then posing as Mariya) stumbled on her and accidentally revealed her [[GoofyPrintUnderwear panda-print panties]]. The second was as a teenager, after Mariya saved her from falling off her float. Cue [[MaleGaze pan-down shot of Ayari's breasts]] and Kanako staining the statue of the Virgin Mary with her epic {{nosebleed}}.* YearInsideHourOutside: For failing all of her tests, Kanako was sent by [[AGodAmI God]] to... somewhere so she can spend a year studying for everything. She comes back a week later with lampshades abound about how long it felt for her and the various changes that happened in the interim.** Turns out most of the "changes" were set up in some way by Mariya just to mess with Kanako's head, or by sheer misunderstanding.* YuriFan: Kanako, obviously.----